What Ever Happened to the Morning Wedding and Breakfast Reception?

We think we should strongly consider bringing back the idea of a morning wedding with the breakfast reception. There's no time of day that is sweeter, cleaner and fresher than the morning, and the idea of a new day is in concert with starting a new life. Just glancing at the catering menu of one hotel, popular as a beachside wedding site, we note that the plated dinner meals begin at $31 (for a chicken dish, salad, rolls, and vegetable, tea coffee), while their most expensive breakfast meal is $15 (eggs benedict, corn beef hash, crab, fruit, potatoes, juices, coffee). With 100 guests, this is the difference in a $3100 meal and a $1500 one (plus service charges and tax). The savings on alcohol also be substantial. Consider the difference in serving an average of 2 drinks to 100 people at $8 a drink ($1600) versus 2 glasses of champagne punch at $125 per gallon for $900.

Now what about dancing? While it may be hard to imagine a disco-type scene in the daytime, you may be able to pull off dancing (if you wish) with a beachside or poolside reception. Another idea would be to have a smaller informal gathering of close friends who like to dance later in the evening at a local pub or hangout.

Now whatever happened to the morning wedding and breakfast that was so typical at the end of the 19th century, and well into the 20th century? According to a 1905 New York Times article: weddings were moved from mornings until afternoons or evenings to ensure that the "bridegroom turn up in prime condition...whereas in the morning the chances were of his appearing decidedly seedy, to say the least." The reason? In those days, the night before the wedding was not dedicated to a rehearsal dinner, but rather a bachelor supper (and alcohol fest) which usually lasted all night long.

Here's some good menu choices for a morning wedding: Gazpacho or other cold or warm soup, Crab Souffle, Broiled Tomatoes, Stuffed Mushrooms, Cheese Grits, Melons, Muffins and Croissants with various jams and honey, juices, coffee, champagne. The centerpiece should still be the cake!